Can I hang up some more Sukka decorations on Chol Hamoed?

Dh says no.
Growing up, we always adjusted the decorations on Chol Hamoed.
Does anyone know the answer to this?

Gold Member Joined: Jul 10 2005 Posts: 2115

Just read yom tov in one of the magazines that you are allowed (you are not allowed to use decorations for other purposes) but you are allowed to put them up if they fell down or put new ones up

yes, the mishpacha magazine (or family first) had a halacha page that said it is okay.

Platinum Member Joined: Jan 23 2008 Posts: 9074

Why is it a Shailoh? (We don't decorate the sukkah, so I'm ignorant of this.)

Diamond Member Joined: Dec 28 2005 Posts: 4653

Muktza does not apply on Chol HaMoed although the 39 melachos DO apply.

So - if someone wants to go apple picking as a family trip, muttar to pick apples you will use over the Chag but NOT extra ones. Can be assur d'oraysa as kotzer (picking) and me'amer (gathering). Per my husband, a lot of people don't realize this. May be better to go to the zoo and save apple picking for another time.

Diamond Member Joined: Dec 28 2005 Posts: 4653

To clarify, cannot do the 39 melachos UNLESS falls into one of the categories of permitted melacha on Chol HaMoed. ie - tzorech hamoed, etc.

Platinum Member Joined: May 13 2007 Posts: 8153

Adding or fixing sukkah decorations is tzorech hamoed and is permitted. For that matter, you can even build a sukkah.

But no apple picking, unless you are going to eat all of the apples.

Posted: Mon, Oct 05 2009, 2:14 am Post subject:

Grin - I also grew up thinking that but have since learned otherwise. There doesn't seem to be a source for the idea that they are muktzah on Chol Hamoed. In fact, just last night we hung up decorations!

Platinum Member Joined: Jan 23 2008 Posts: 9074

thanks!

Posted: Mon, Oct 05 2009, 8:56 am Post subject:

Platinum Member Joined: May 13 2007 Posts: 8153

Diamond Member Joined: Dec 28 2005 Posts: 4653

OK, clarified with my husband.

We can use muktza in two different way. It literally means "set aside."

We commonly use it to refer to the Issur D'Rabbanan on Shabbos of handling something that has a designated purpose that desecrates Shabbos. In that sense muktza does not apply on Chol HaMoed.

However, in the sense that something set aside for the Moed can't be used for other purposes, muktza does apply. So, correct that you cannot eat fruit that was set up to be decorations in the Succa. The same term of muktza applies to the oil used to light the menora on Chanuka - it cannot be used for other purposes.

Moderator Joined: Oct 18 2004 Posts: 2659

I heard about the picking apples shaila (after we went apple and veggie picking w/ 100s of other jews). But I had this reasoning for my dh: Why are we allowed to drive to the groves, or zoo, or amusement park... on chol hamoed?
similarly, we were not picking apples because we wanted some to eat. it's easier and much more convenient to get apples at the store. we were picking apples because that was our chol hamoed activity. Okay, I didn't run this reasoning by any competent halachik authority (yes, my dh is a competent halachik authority in some areas, but not this).